Sisters of Mercy Complete Five-Day Culinary Skills Workshop in Mansa
By Sr. Gladys Chama, SOM Mansa, CNCS Hub Thirteen novices and postulants from the Sisters of Mercy, together with their novice mistress, completed a five-day culinary workshop at Medium View Lodge in Mansa to strengthen community service. The workshop, held from 13 to 17 January 2026, also attracted staff from Medium View Lodge and Spaita Centre, as well as participants from Samfya and Namwandwe areas, bringing the total number of participants to 19. Participants were trained in pastry, including red velvet cake, meatballs, cheese macaroni and mini pizzas. Chef Given Bulanda, proprietor of Gilanda Foods Enterprise in Lusaka, said the training equipped participants with hands-on pastry skills to begin production immediately after four days of intensive learning. She added that the workshop emphasised kitchen and personal hygiene, menu and recipe development, ingredient functionality and practical tasting. “The skills gained during the training will strengthen the Sisters of Mercy’s ministry, improve meal preparation, support tuck shop management and enable the production of pastry items for visitors and external clients,” said Chef Given. And Sisters of Mercy Novice Mistress, Sr. Anastasia Kalingeme, said the training reflects the Congregation’s commitment to serving communities through practical skills. “The Sisters of Mercy will use these skills to serve food at soup kitchens, hospitals and during community events,” she said. Sr. Anastasia said the workshop came about after Mrs. Charity Makasa, owner of Medium View Lodge, invited Chef Given to train her staff and extended the opportunity to the Sisters of Mercy and the wider community through Radio Yangeni. She added that Chef Given encouraged participants to use natural ingredients and grow their own spices such as mint, rosemary and parsley to enhance flavour. The participants welcomed the training, with novice Blessings Nakamba saying it would help improve her cooking skills, while postulant Prisca Mwila said the skills acquired align with their mission of service. Meanwhile, Sr. Anastasia thanked Chef Given and Mrs. Makasa for their support and said the chef has been invited to conduct a follow-up session in April.
Sister of Mercy Marks 25 Years of Religious Life in Lusaka
By Sr. Jacqueline Ngosa and Sr. Christine Musonda, SOM, Mansa CNCS Hub A Sister of Mercy celebrates a silver jubilee at Holy Spirit Parish in Lusaka, marking 25 years of religious life and service to the Church and the community. Sr.Getrude Nayame has marked 25 years of dedicated service to the Lord, serving the community with love, compassion and devotion in the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy. In his homily, the parish priest praised Sr. Getrude for her selfless service and dedication to God. He said Sr. Getrude’s example is a shining testimony to the power of God’s love and mercy, demonstrated through her lifelong commitment to serving others. “We are all grateful for her presence among us,” he said. During the celebration, the parish priest presented Sr. Getrude with a special gift from Pope Leo XIV in appreciation of her 25 years of dedicated service to the Lord. And the Superior General of the Sisters of Mercy, Sr. Delphine Kalisha, said she is grateful to God for the gift of Sr. Getrude to the congregation. “We give thanks to the Lord for the gift of Sr. Gertrude to our congregation,” she said. She said the 25 years of dedicated service are a testament to Sr. Getrude’s love for God and her commitment to the sisterhood. “We are grateful for her example and her dedication to serving others,” she said. The Superior General also thanked the people Sr. Getrude has served for allowing her to minister to them and for supporting her vocation. She further encouraged other Sisters, especially young Sisters, to look up to Sr. Getrude as an example of religious life. “We encourage our young Sisters to look up to Sr. Gertrude as a model of faith, hope and love. May her example inspire you to be faithful to your vocation and to serve others with joy and generosity,” she said. And the chaplain of the Sisters of Mercy Congregation, Fr. Chrispine Mwila, said Sr. Getrude is a true embodiment of the charism of the congregation. Fr. Mwila said her 25 years of service reflect her love for God and commitment to serving others. “We are grateful for her presence among us and pray that she will continue to be a source of inspiration to all,” he said. And Sr. Getrude expressed gratitude to God and to the people of God who have supported her throughout her journey. “I am grateful to God for calling me to this vocation and to the people of God who have walked with me, supporting me every step of the way,” she said. Meanwhile, a family representative Memory Nayame said the family is grateful to God for Sr. Getrude’s vocation and proud of her dedication to the Lord. Mrs. Nayame said Sr. Getrude’s commitment to serving others has been an inspiration to the entire family. She added that the family appreciates the support and love Sr. Getrude has received from the congregation and the people she has served. “We pray that God will continue to bless her and guide her as she continues to serve the Lord,”Mrs.Nayame said. And a parishioner, Mrs. Agnes Banda, said Sr. Getrude has been a role model and a true servant of God, adding that the parish is grateful for her presence.
Five Novices Make First Profession of Religious Vows in Monze Diocese
By Sr. Grace Phiri, Monze CNCS Hub Five Novices from the Congregation of the Religious Sisters of the Holy Spirit made their first profession of religious vows in Monze Diocese. The newly professed Sisters are Frontier Soteli, Ades Mudenda, Mutinta Veronica Chikomo, Minako Milambo, and Sisca Muchelemba. During the ceremony, Fr. Brian Chibuluma called on the Sisters to embrace courage, prayer, obedience and sacrifice as they prepare to serve a world “broken and in need of healing.” “Indeed, it has been a long walk, a long journey. One that we long to walk into today, a world divided politically, religiously, tribally and rationally,” Fr. Chibuluma said. “Yes, my dear Sisters, this is the world you are walking into,” he added. He reminded the Sisters that they are called to bring light and hope and to bear much fruit. “Like firefighters walking into collapsing buildings to save others, you too are walking into a collapsing world to help those who are broken and in need of saving,” he said. Further, Fr. Chibuluma emphasised the importance of remaining spiritually connected in order to bear fruit. “In the gospel, Jesus says, I am the vine and you are the branches. Without the vine, branches like us cannot bear fruit. You need to be attached to Christ in every moment and circumstance,” he said. He stated that the three ways for the Sisters to remain rooted and effective in their mission are prayer, obedience and sacrifice. “Prayer connects you to Christ. Obedience allows you to remain connected to the Spirit. And sacrifice calls for selfless service,” he added. Meanwhile, Sr. Rosalia Sakayombo, Holy Spirit Sisters Superior General, explained that the theme of the ceremony, “I chose you and appointed you to bear fruit,” is a reminder of the meaning of their religious life. “Before ever you thought of choosing our religious life, God had already seen you and loved you and called you. Your yes today is a re-echo of a love story that began long before we had even thought of it,” Sr. Rosalia said. She further emphasised that bearing fruit is about faithfulness rather than perfection. “So when God appoints you to go and bear fruit, He also appoints the point. He provides the grace and the strength needed for the harvest. My dear sisters, thank you for the example of today,” she said. Sr. Rosalia encouraged the Sisters to embrace joy in religious life and actively reach out to those in need. “Don’t be like a wheelbarrow waiting for someone to move it, be open to going to the people who need you,” she said. And Sr. Anna Hakaloba expressed happiness at seeing young people joining and responding positively to the growth of the congregation. Similarly, Sr. Lontia Siakalambwa described the event as a milestone for the congregation and thanked God for the growth of girls in formation houses over the past four years. Meanwhile, one of the parents of the newly professed Sister, Mr. Mwila Soteli, described the occasion as a memorable and moving experience. ‘’I feel honored to witness to such event, to see the ladies making their vows especially my daughter, ‘’ he added.
Sisters of the Child Jesus Open Little Flower Mother and Child Clinic in Kasama
By Sr. Petronella Mutamba, Kasama CNCS Hub The Sisters of the Child Jesus have opened a private health facility, the Little Flower Mother and Child Clinic, in Kasama, Northern Province, to provide medical services focused on mothers and children. Speaking during the official opening, Sr. Elizabeth Mutamba, Superior General of the Sisters of the Child Jesus said the clinic was established to help people in the area and beyond access medical services and reduce the high costs of traveling long distances for quality care. “As we inaugurate this Little Flower clinic today, let it be a place where healing meets hope, where every patient is treated with dignity and where our collective efforts bring change to society,” she said. She added that the facility will concentrate on mother and child health services and is especially significant as the congregation approaches its 100-year anniversary. “So in the years that we have served the people, we thought of adding another facility to help the community access the much-needed medical services,” Sr. Elizabeth said. And Kasama District Director of Health, Dr. Charles Chungu said mother and child health remains a critical government priority, noting that maternal and prenatal deaths have been declared a public health emergency. “You will be interested again to know that maternal and prenatal deaths have been declared a public health emergency. All resources must be mobilised to support the health of mother and child to prevent deaths and illnesses in our communities,” Dr. Chungu said. He said the clinic’s focus on mother and child health will improve district health indicators by bringing services closer to communities. “So having a facility primarily focused on mother and child health is exciting for us because our mothers and children will access services right near their doorsteps,” he said. Dr. Chungu also commended the longstanding collaboration between faith-based organisations and the Ministry of Health. “This collaboration, demonstrated by our presence here, shows that we will continue to work together to provide health services to the community,” he said. Meanwhile, Fr. Rodgers Fikwamo, Vicar General, said the clinic is expected to grow and attract patients beyond the airport community, including residents of Kasama District and surrounding villages and towns. “I wish this facility protection and support so that it will continue to grow and become what the congregation envisions for its future,” he said.
Three Catholic Sisters Honoured for Anti-Trafficking Work at SATA Awards
By Doris Sialusunga Three Religious Sisters receive awards at the Third Annual Sisters Anti-Trafficking (SATA) Awards, held under the theme “Faith and Leadership United, Together to End Violence” at Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka. The Sisters honoured at the awards were Sr. Benjamine Nanga Kimala, SMC (Comboni Missionary Sisters) of Chad, awarded the Common Good Award, Sr. Margaret Ng, RSJ (Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart) of Australia, awarded the Servant Leadership Award and Sr. Martha Pelloni, CMT (Carmelitas Misioneras Teresianas) of Argentina, absent, recognised with the Human Dignity Award. Cardinal Stephen Brislin said the awards celebrate Sisters who serve on the frontlines of the struggle against human trafficking and whose courage brings light where darkness seems overwhelming. “The Sisters advocate tirelessly, accompany gently and rebuild patiently. Their lives preach the gospel with extraordinary clarity,” he said. Cardinal Brislin explained that the Sisters’ compassion restores hope where it has been violently taken away and their presence offers safety, healing and dignity to survivors of unimaginable suffering. “We celebrate their unwavering spirit and their extraordinary contribution to ending modern-day slavery,” he added. Cardinal Brislin said this year’s theme calls people not only to believe but to act, defend dignity and become instruments of change. He added that human trafficking is one of the gravest violations of human dignity in our time. “It reduces God’s children to objects, strips people of freedom, dignity and hope, destroys families and inflicts wounds that can last a lifetime,” he said. “As people of faith, we cannot remain silent.” Cardinal Brislin has called for stronger national and regional cooperation, survivor-centred protection systems and greater community awareness. “We must expand economic opportunities for those at risk and ensure that Catholic Sisters who form the backbone of anti-trafficking work receive the recognition, resources and protection they need,” he said. And Sr. Jane Wakahiu, Associate Vice President of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, said the SATA Awards recognise the extraordinary courage and leadership of Sisters working on the front lines of human trafficking. “Sisters receiving awards today offer hope, restore human dignity and provide interventions for those who suffer,” she said. Sr. Jane said the event is an opportunity to honour their mission and strengthen collective resolve to build a world free from exploitation and violence. Meanwhile, Zambia Association of Sisterhood (ZAS) Chairperson Sr. Valeria Kabaso thanked the awardees for their dedication and compassion, describing them as beacons of hope in the fight against human trafficking. “You remind us of the transformative power of faith and leadership in action,” she said. She also thanked partners including the Hilton Foundation, the Union of Superior Generals and Arise Foundation for supporting the Sisters’ work. “As we celebrate tonight, let us remind ourselves that the struggle against human trafficking does not end here,” she said. “We must continue to raise awareness, advocate for policy reform, support survivors and strengthen community-based prevention efforts.” Sr. Valeria explained that only through coordinated efforts and solidarity can communities be built where every person is safe, valued and free from exploitation.